9-5-13 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL:

These May Be Some Of The Most Important Passages About Self-Control That I’ve Ever Read

It’s no surprise to readers here that I’m a big believer is helping students develop self-control (see The Best Posts About Helping Students Develop Their Capacity For Self-Control) done in the context of helping students develop intrinsic motivation in a student-centered classroom. My posts, my practice, and my books reflect that perspective. I’ve also been very critical of those who — in the na

7 by Larry Ferlazzo / 53min 

14 Ways to Use The New York Times Learning Network This School Year

As many readers of this blog know, after writing a monthly post focused on English Language Learners for The New York Times Learning Network last year, they asked me to start contributing a weekly one including an interactive for students and teaching ideas. The first one was posted there a couple of weeks ago, and it will appear every Monday. You can find all my posts there here. They’ve also ju

9 by Larry Ferlazzo / 53min 

September’s (2013) Best Tweets — Part One

Every month I make a few short lists highlighting my choices of the best resources I shared through (and learned from) Twitter, but didn’t necessarily include them in posts here on my blog. I’ve already shared in earlier posts several new resources I found on Twitter — and where I gave credit to those from whom I learned about them. Those are not included again in this post. If you don’t use Twit

8 by Larry Ferlazzo / 16min mark as read  //  save

Infographic: “Rosh Hashanah”

I’m adding this infographic to The Best Sites For Learning About New Year Celebrations: Explore more infographics like this one on the web’s largest information design community – Visually.

6 by Larry Ferlazzo / 16min 

PBS Releases Second Video Showing The Cookie Monster Learning About “Delayed Gratification”

PBS just released its second video in a month showing The Cookie Monster learning about “delayed gratification.” You can see, and read about, the first video here. I’m also adding this second one to The Best Posts About Helping Students Develop Their Capacity For Self-Control.

9 by Larry Ferlazzo / 7h 

9-4-13 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: New Study: “Using harsh verbal discipline with teens found to be harmful”A new study has found that: Many American parents yell or shout at their teenagers. A new longitudinal study has found that using such harsh verbal discipline in early adolescence can be harmful to teens later. Instead of minimizing teens’ problematic

by mike simpson / 10h 

9-5-13 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.:

Ten minute drawing. No boots on the ground.

1 by Fred Klonsky / 21min 

The in box. From Senator Dan Biss. What the pension committee is thinking.

  Senator Dan Biss, pension bomber. September 4, 2013 Dear Friends, I am writing to update you on the progress of the pension conference committee. There are two topics that I would like to address: the timing of our work, and recent news reports about items under consideration by the committee. Regarding timing, I know that many people are frustrated that the committee has not yet c

1 by Fred Klonsky / 1h 

9-4-13 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Interview with myself.Q: You’re running as a retired delegate to the IEA Representative Assembly? A: I’ve been elected as a delegate for over twenty years. Except last year when the Springfield office of the IEA lost my paperwork moving my active membership to retired membership.  But, yes. I sent my

by mike simpson / 8h 

9-5-13 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online:

Video From Murry Bergtraum HS: Having Fun With MOSL

Posted at the MBHS chapter web site:https://sites.google.com/site/uftmbhs/home

by ed notes online / 52min 

UFT spends $2 Million on Thompson While 1199 Spends $6,590 for de Blasio

The city's biggest unions are spending millions of dollars on independent efforts to elect their chosen mayoral candidates. Two of the three Democratic frontrunners, Council Speaker Christine Quinn and former Comptroller Bill Thompson, have both benefited from independent spending by their respective unions.But not Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. At least not on the surface.Some political and labo

2 by ed notes online / 23min 

Brunch with MORE in Brooklyn on October 5, 11:30-1:30

Hello, You are invited to the following event: Brunch with MORE (The Movement of Rank and File Educators) Event to be held at the following time, date, and location: Saturday, October 5, 2013 from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM (PDT) The Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew's Parish Hall520 Clinton AvenueBrooklyn, NY 11238 View Map Yes No Maybe Share this event:

1 by ed notes online / 1min 

Yet Aniother Charter Scandal Bewing:

Yummy. I love charter school scandals.Click here: Bronx charter school named in whistleblower suit - NY Daily NewsBronx charter school named in whistleblower suitAlexis Riley, formerly a project manager at South Bronx Classical Charter, said she was fired for reporting financial and academic improprieties. By John Marzulli / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS The ex-project manager of a Bronx charter school ha

7 by ed notes online / 1h 

[Teachersunite] Today! A New Vision for School Safety in NYC Public Schools

I support Dignity in Schools. Let's end suspension mania and find a way to deal with difficult behavioral issues in a rational way that will benefit teachers and students. I saw the Teachers Unite film Growing Fairness (see here and here) last week and that should be shown around town as an example of how students can take part in the process.I'll write more on my feelings about discipline -- I ra

by ed notes online / 1h mark as read  //  save

Mulgrew's Epiphany - And Hypocrisy

Blatantly self-serving. The UFT's situational approach to issues should be called Firmly Wavering... Fred SmithThe recent push back by the unions - teachers and principals- feels so self serving and risks dividing parents/students from educators further if all the messaging is about the damage to them ( via the evaluations), when the recent graduating class ( and all others after them) has only kn

1 by ed notes online / 1h 

What Did You Talk About in School? Not How to Teach Johnny But MOSLs, Growth, Goals and BS

 Most people were shocked and upset about the MOSL system... Teacher report on first day PD. I have no clue what a MOSL is -- any relation to Mozel (luck)? I don't think luck is in the offing. More like Shlimossel (unlucky guy) where some unlucky teachers are going to get chopped.The first days back for teachers used to be about getting ready for the kids. Setting up your room to create a welcomin

1 by ed notes online / 1h 

9-4-13 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online: MORE Weekly Update #65, Sept. 2, 2013Happy Labor Day from MORE! View this email in your browser Weekly Update #65 September 2, 2013 Share Tweet Forward to Friend Join MORE Today COMMITTEES:High Stake Testing Committeetesting@morecaucusnyc.orgFri. Sept. 6 at 4:30PMBryant Park / Tables @ NE SideSteering Committeesteering@morecaucusnyc.orgMon. Sept1 by ed notes online / 3h Bill di Bl

by mike simpson / 10h 

Please Join My Anti-CREDO Crusade | Crazy Crawfish's Blog

Please Join My Anti-CREDO Crusade | Crazy Crawfish's Blog:

Please Join My Anti-CREDO Crusade

Posted on September 4, 2013

2

After posting my critique of CREDO’s funding sources and shoddy statistical work and unfounded conclusions I was contacted by a few folks who had published critiques of these CREDO frauds earlier. At first I was chagrined that I had not found my fellow bloggers posts and reports earlier – I consider myself relatively up-to-date on most of the shenanigans and reform players, but I’ll admit CREDO snuck by me. My momentary embarrassment quickly turned into a resolution to ensure CREDO becomes synonymous with the Reform movement and fraudulent studies. If I didn’t know about them (as obsessed as some might say I am about fighting reformers), it’s a good bet not very many people in the mainstream have a clue. I tried to analyze why I never questioned them as a possible imposter and I came up with a few possibilities as to why they fit so nicely in my reformer blindspot.

• CREDO makes a big point of listing their affiliation with Stanford whenever they mention their name or introduce themselves (which conjures up very liberal leaning feelings and images.) However CREDO is actually the bastard offspring of the Hoover Institute, a conservative think tank and corporate toady, both of which are funded by Pearson and the Walton [Walmart] Family Foundation – two of the biggest corporate reformers on earth. The Hoover fellows, two of which are affiliated with CREDO are some of the most pro-charter, pro-reform, anti-child folks you will ever find, Margaret E. Raymond, Director and supreme CREDO commander, and her husband, public education guerrilla terrorist
  Eric Alan Hanushek.
• CREDO attacks virtual schools in their “studies.” Virtual schools are easy sacrificial 

9-5-13 SCHOOLS MATTER @ THE CHALK FACE

SCHOOLS MATTER @ THE CHALK FACE:

Testing Is the New Learning: Do the Math

While Orange Is the New Black continues to garner a wide range of reactions from the public and critics, let’s do a little math and confront something that is not receiving the media attention that it should: Testing is the new learning. Back in 2005, when the SAT introduced with much fanfare a third section […]

5 by plthomasedd / 9min 

How to Manipulate Everyone to Buy in to #CCSS

From Sara Wottawa’s Blog: Holy Corruption Batman! In a nutshell this publication is a directive on how to manipulate teachers, parents, administrators and even legislators to buy into the CCSS! On pg. 48 in the publication Implementing Common Core State Standards and Assessments: A Workbook for State and District Leaders it states: In essence communications efforts help widen […]

43 by Kris Nielsen / 7h 

9-4-13 Schools Matter @ The Chalk Face

SCHOOLS MATTER @ THE CHALK FACE: Don’t Delay Retention Policy, Reject RetentionSouth Carolina is a dysfunctional poster child for the hot mess that is political leadership, the media, and their combined influence on educational policy. Superintendent of Education Mick Zais, The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC), and even the SC League of Women Voters all cannot stop themselves from promoting the w

by mike simpson / 8h 

9-5-13 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School:

Did Joe Lhota And Republicans Poll To See If They Can Use De Blasio's Interracial Marriage Against Him?

The allegation that the Lhota campaign poll-tested a negative message against Bill de Blasio for being married to a black woman first showed up in a Christian Science Monitor article yesterday.The writer wrote that a GOP operative not affiliated with the campaign but privy to the campaign polling was claiming this was so.This GOP operative denied he told the CSM reporter anything of the sort, but

by reality-based edu... / 1h 

Sign The MORE Petition Calling For A Moratorium On APPR Teacher Evaluations

The MORE petition - in full:Moratorium on Teacher Evaluations We, the educators, parents and community members of New York City, call on State Education Commissioner King, the new Mayor of New York City, and the UFT leadership to implement a MORATORIUM ON THE NEW YORK CITY TEACHER EVALUATION SYSTEM. This system disproportionately weights the use of high stakes test scores over qualitative assessme

by reality-based edu... / 38min 

Teacher Cries To Bill Thompson About School Officials

.@BillThompsonNYC listens to a teacher who tears up talking about problems with school officials. pic.twitter.com/chXlwjNZy7— Azi Paybarah (@Azi) September 5, 2013Quite frankly, I know teachers who get just as frustrated when the union functionaries come around to explain the wonders of APPR or why nothing can be done about all those "unsatisfactory ratings" in the building or why dissenting voice

by reality-based edu... / 7min 

Mulgrew AGAIN Defends Advance APPR Teacher Evaluation System In An Email

They must be feeling some pressure down at 52 Broadway this week, as teachers who haven't been following the ins-and-outs of the teacher evaluation system battles got their first detailed look at the Advance APPR system and learned just how insanely complex, convoluted and unworkable it is, because UFT President Michael Mulgrew has now sent out two emails defending the system.The first one was ent

by reality-based edu... / 12min

Bloomberg's Endorsement Seen As "Kiss Of Death"

Yes, that phrase actually gets used in today's Times article on why not one candidate running for mayor has sought Bloomberg's endorsement  - not even the Republicans.One GOP candidate took a poll with Republican voters and found that two-thirds had a negative view of Bloomberg.In the Democratic Primary, de Blasio has surged to the head of the pack running an anti-Bloomberg-themed campaign:It is a

by reality-based edu... / 2h 

9-4-13 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School: What Happened To Christine Quinn's Support?Via Azi Paybarah, two trend lines from yesterday's Quinnipiac poll show what has happened to Quinn recently that her support has cratered:White voters and women voters were all that were keeping her anywhere near runoff territory.Now she seems to have lost both and she's bottoming out.It's ugly:Can't say I feel sorry for her - she r

by mike simpson / 10h

K-12 News Network | Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee Comes to Los Angeles; The City Shrugs

K-12 News Network | Michelle Rhee Comes to Los Angeles; The City Shrugs:

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee  Comes to Los Angeles; The City Shrugs

Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee ’s StudentsFirst group is holding a “Teacher Town Hall” meeting in Los Angeles on September 5, 2013, as part of a multi-city tour.

I can’t fathom why anyone would be excited.

As a Californian (since 1990), as an Angeleno (since roughly 2001), and as the parent of a public school-attending fourth grader, I’m hard pressed to think of a single thing on her agenda that speaks to me as a parent or would appeal to teachers.

So here are four reasons why Angelenos might, as Hollywood mogul Samuel Goldwyn was rumored to have said, “stay away in droves.”

• People who care about their neighborhood schools care that even after passing Proposition 30 in November of 2012, we’re STILL 49th in the nation in per pupil funding. How can that be? Thirty-five years of chronic underfunding from Proposition 13, passed in 1978 — that’s how.

I had the galvanizing bad luck to send my child to kindergarten just as the Great Recession began in 2009. Five billion dollars a year were cut from the roughly $50 billion annual K-12 education budget for four years straight. Teachers received pink slips every March, and waited to see if schools could scrape together enough budget to hire them back in August, right 

Back to School: It’s so much worse than you think | Parents United for Public Education

Back to School: It’s so much worse than you think | Parents United for Public Education:

Back to School: It’s so much worse than you think

Posted on September 5, 2013 by HELENGYMLeave a comment

Retired teacher Barbara Dowdall and friend at the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. They had attended the original march as teenagers.

“Philadelphia, Mississippi 1963: No black children allowed in libraries

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 2013: No school libraries”

On Tuesday, dozens of parents came out to District headquarters to finally gain some answers to rumors, questions and fears surrounding the first day of school. Our parent partners at the Philadelphia Home and School Council had called an emergency meeting with Supt. William Hite to address parents’ back to school concerns. To many people’s surprise and outrage, the Superintendent stayed for less than a half hour, answered barely a fraction of the questions people had, and, offered no other staff people (other than one staff person from Specialized Services) equipped to handle parents’ questions and concerns. At first, it seemed like just another example of marginalizing parents. But in reality, it confirmed what we must know by now.

The District doesn’t have the answers.

Parent Maureen Frantatoni with her sign: Parent Engagement NOT Parent Enragement!

It’s not like Supt. Hite was rude. Far from it. He’s among the most individually personable superintendents this District has had.  There were some individual gains for some schools. The Superintendent took down notes from one parent at Bache Martin upset that her principal had made four requests for additional desks for the school – all of which had gone unanswered. He made a visit to the school the very next day as well. That’s great for Bache 

Mother Crusader: Devaluation Of Teachers Evident In Newark Merit Pay Debacle

Mother Crusader: Devaluation Of Teachers Evident In Newark Merit Pay Debacle:

Devaluation Of Teachers Evident In Newark Merit Pay Debacle

Here's something I've been chewing on that I'll just put out there, and let you guys make of it what you will.  I have been reading a lot about what my friend Jersey Jazzman is calling "The Newark Merit Pay Experiment."  If you haven't been keeping up, do yourself a favor and hop over there.  JJ is making some remarkable connections.

Some of the numbers are kind of startling. Lisa Fleisher at the Wall Street Journal reported that the total pool of money available for bonuses was $1.4 million for 3,200 Newark teachers.

About 5% of the 3,200-member teaching force got the money, one of the more contentious parts of the contract approved in November by the Newark Teachers Union. Seventeen teachers received the top bonus of $12,500.

That got me to thinking about our pals on Wall Street and their bonuses, so I did some quick digging.  

(Here's where you're going to start getting really angry.  Just fair warning.)

Let's look at Goldman Sachs, since today my other education blogger friend EduShyster posted a link on Facebook to this Teach for America nugget:

Teach For America is Proud to Partner with Goldman Sachs

Joining Teach For America before pursuing a career in business will provide you with the management experience and